August 2013

Nearly two weeks ago I came across an incredible story. The title of the news article was unbelievable enough to get my attention. The title of the article was Divers Nearly Swallowed by Humpback Whales off Central California Coast. Not something you read everyday is it? The article is well worth the read but the live video is even better!

So the story goes that a group of people are out on the sea for a bit of whale watching. Two people from the group were in the water near the boat and seem to be trying to do some underwater camera work when suddenly of school of fish swarms the swimmers. Anyone who has watched Disney’s Finding Nemo will know that that’s a bad sign (SWIM AWAY!!!). Moments later, two Humpback whales burst out of the water right under the swimmers, nearly swallowing one! Flashbacks of Jonah & the Whale and Pinocchio immediately come to mind, two stories that I have never liked. (WARNING...there is a swear word in here, don't watch it if you will be offended. It starts with S, in case you were wondering which one it was.)

This story hit a little too close to home. Not because I have an interest in marine biology but because the fear and panic of the swimmers is so relatable. Have you ever undertaken a project and think, “I got this”? I do this quite often, and it always seems to become a bigger project that I think it will. So instead of saying, “I got this” it quickly becomes “Whoa, what was I thinking?!”. It doesn’t seem to matter how much I’ve prepared, planned or prophesied that it’s going to be quick and easy, it just becomes a whale of a project. Sometimes it feels as though it is going to swallow me whole!
Now i’m sure that there are some coping techniques or sage advice out there in the great wide world for some, if not all, of “my project situations”. But honestly, who has the time to find them! I’m too busy trying not to be swallowed.